Tax Study Commission

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT TAX STUDY COMMISSION - PAGE 3

By Kelly Madsen Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | January 18, 2007

Salisbury Township School District will ask its taxpayers in May if they are willing to pay 0.80 percent more in earned income tax to lower property taxes. The school board said Wednesday that its Tax Study Commission recommended the district raise its earned income tax from 1 percent to 1.8 percent. If approved by voters, the increase would reduce property taxes by about $360 in the first year and by $600 in subsequent years, Salisbury business administrator Susan Famularo said.

A Mahoning Township man and Bethlehem Steel retiree will lead a commission that is studying whether the Lehighton Area School District should reduce property taxes by shifting to an earned income or personal income tax. The Lehighton Area School District Tax Commission, at its initial meeting Thursday, voted John Wieczorek as its chairman. Wieczorek, who held supervisor jobs at Bethlehem Steel, served on the Saucon Valley School Board in the early 1990s. He made an unsuccessful run against incumbent state Rep. Keith McCall for his seat in the 122nd District in this year's Democratic primary.

Area school districts are gearing up to appoint citizen tax study commissions by a fast-approaching Sept. 14 deadline established in a new state law. Under Act 1 of 2006, the Taxpayer Relief Act adopted in late June, legislators aim to offset school property tax rates with a greater proportion of income-based taxes and later with revenue from slots casinos. As part of the process, the law requires each of the state's 501 districts to appoint a tax study commission. School boards will appoint five, seven or nine district residents as commission members.

The Allentown School Board voted 8-0 on Thursday to send its revised empowerment plan back to the state Department of Education. The department had returned the document to the school district's Empowerment Team three weeks ago for minor revisions. The board also voted 8-0 not to hold a public referendum to consider adopting a tax reform proposal known as the Homestead Property Exclusion Act or Act 50. Director Patricia Hoffman, who is a member of the Empowerment Team, pointed out the changes in the plan to the board.

By Melinda Rizzo Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | October 31, 2006

The Pennridge School District should increase its earned income tax by 80 percent to offset lost property tax revenues, an independent tax panel recommended Monday. District taxpayers could vote next May on whether to increase the earned income tax now in place, which is paid by district residents who work, or add a personal income tax paid by all residents, including retirees. School directors will vote on a referendum question to be placed on the May primary ballot. The district's independent Tax Study Commission recommended increasing the earned income tax rate to 1.8 percent from 1 percent, which school directors are scheduled to consider Dec. 4. The additional tax is supposed to replace real estate tax the district would lose because of Act 1, state legislation that aims to reduce property taxes for homeowners by funding schools with gaming revenues.

Homeowners in Northampton Area School District might get a property tax break next year, but only if residents vote to hike their income taxes and possibly do more paperwork at tax time. School directors on Monday discussed the possible shift from property taxes to a new "personal income tax," in response to new state law. The change would save each district homeowner more than $400 in property taxes, but about 30 percent of residents would have higher tax bills overall because income taxes would nearly double, officials have said.

By Sarah Fulton Special to The Morning Call -- Freelance | May 12, 2007

Candidates for the Northern Lehigh School Board weighed in on Act 1 and the loss of top administrators as they made their case for the nomination in Tuesday's primary election. Four incumbents, two newcomers and two former political officeholders are vying for five seats on the board. Incumbents Peter Ruth, Sherry Giles, Raymond Follweiler Jr. and Mathias Green have cross-filed. Board member Donna Kulp, appointed in March to the term of retired board member Franklin Beers, also has cross-filed, along with newcomer Carrie Beleno and former board member Lori Geronikos.

It wasn't your imagination. Not if you're the owner of a house with an average tax assessment in Allentown and you suddenly felt more money in your wallet early last night. Not if you're a member of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society and you felt a chill about the same time. The Allentown Government Study Commission voted 4-1 last night to replace the city's flat property tax with a land value tax in the proposed Home Rule Charter that will go to the voters in May. The change could alter the face of development in the city.

East Penn School Board appointed nine members to its state-mandated Local Tax Study Commission Monday. The commission will have 90 days to study district finances, hold at least one public hearing and make recommendations on tax alternatives to only raising property taxes for East Penn's 2007-08 budget. The commission could have five, seven or nine members. The board decided on nine, partly because it got such a good response after advertising for members. Board members were pleased that 37 East Penn residents applied to serve.

CENTER VALLEY The Southern Lehigh School District Tax Study Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school auditorium, 5800 Main St., Center Valley. The public hearing will have an overview of Act 1, also known as the Taxpayer Relief Act, a review of several options and their impact on district taxpayers and the commission's preliminary findings.